Sherdog.com on Nov. 26 confirmed with
World Series of Fighting President Ray Sefo that
Palhares has signed an exclusive deal with the Las Vegas-based
organization. World Series of Fighting officials have not yet
announced when “Toquinho” will make his promotional debut.

Palhares was banned from the Octagon following his welterweight
debut at UFC Fight Night 29 last month, when the leg lock
specialist submitted Mike Pierce
with a heel hook in just 31 seconds. However, the Brazilian did not
immediately release the hold after Pierce tapped out, prompting
Ultimate Fighting Championship President Dana White to announce
his release just one day later. The Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt
previously received a 90-day disciplinary suspension in 2010 after
performing a similar act against Tomasz
Drwal at UFC 111. “Toquinho” was also suspended by the UFC for
nine months after producing elevated testosterone levels following
his knockout loss to Hector
Lombard in December 2012.

Known for his potent ground game, Palhares exited the UFC with a
promotional record of 8-4, earning six victories via submission. A
longtime middleweight, Palhares saw his four Octagon defeats come
against stiff competition, falling to the likes of Lombard,
Dan
Henderson, Nate
Marquardt and Alan
Belcher.

Palhares was banned from competing in the
Ultimate Fighting Championship as a result of “unsportsmanlike
conduct” that cost him a $50,000 “Submission of the Night” bonus at
UFC Fight Night 29 on Oct. 9. Promotion officials announced the
news via Twitter after UFC President Dana White told ESPN’s Jeremy
Schaap that “Toquinho” had been cut from the organization’s roster.
The decision has sparked heated debate.

Known for his effective leg lock attack, Palhares quickly finished
Mike
Pierce in his welterweight debut at UFC Fight Night 29, which
was held at the Jose Correa Gymnasium in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Brazilian’s skill in applying the fight-ending heel hook was
impressive, but his conduct after Pierce surrendered landed him in
hot water. After Palhares caught Pierce’s heel, the American tapped
out vehemently, and referee Keith
Peterson dived into the action to halt the contest, but
Palhares did not immediately release the hold.

This marks the second time Palhares has been disciplined for
hanging onto a heel hook after his opponent submitted, as the
stocky competitor was previously suspended for 90 days by the New
Jersey State Athletic Control Board for cranking the potentially
dangerous hold against Tomasz
Drwal in 2010.

Victory came with a price for Rousimar Palhares. | Photo:
Marcelo Alonso/Sherdog.com

Rousimar
Palhares made a successful debut at 170 pounds at
UFC Fight Night 29, as he submitted Mike Pierce
with a heel hook on Wednesday at Jose Correa Gymnasium in Sao
Paulo, Brazil. However, his decision to cling to the hold even
after Pierce tapped out proved costly.

Despite landing the event’s only submission, Palhares was denied a
$50,000 “Submission of the Night” bonus due to what
Ultimate Fighting Championship officials deemed
“unsportsmanlike conduct.” The Brazilian leg lock ace was behind
another such incident at UFC 111, where he submitted Tomasz
Drwal with a first-round heel hook. Palhares was subsequently
suspended for 90 days because he refused to release the hold after
referee Kevin Mulhall had called a stop to the fight.

UFC Fight Night 29 spawned a number of threads on the Sherdog.net
forums: